Frame roofing construction



y 1941- H. R. HOECKENDORF 2,250,911

FRAME ROOFING CONSTRUCTION Filed June 25, 1940 gwuwvfom RJ/oeelen 01077 WWI-W Patented July 29, 1941 FRAME ROOFING CONSTRUCTION Harry R. Hoeckendorf, Big Spring, Tex., assignor of one-fourth to James Paul Mcflargue, Midland, Tex.

Application June 25,,1940, Serial No. 342,387

Claims. (01. 108-1) This invention relates to improvements in the class of roof construction and pertains particularly to an improved design for a frameor timber roof construction.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved design of roofing framework suitable for spanning large or wide buildings wherein the construction and arrangement of the parts is such that the use of posts, piers and steel trussing is eliminated, the frame being formed entirely of wood with the exception of the nails or bolts which may be employed for securing the parts together. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a wooden roof frame structure of arcuate form A further and more specific object is to pro vide an interlocking rib roof structure wherein a plurality of spaced arcuate ribs are provided which are joined together by longitudinally extending beams and in which certain ones of said ribs are of laminated construction, all of the ribs being composed of rafter units arranged in end to end relation, with said longitudinally extending beams alternately passing through the centers of rafter units of alternate ribs and between notched ends of rafter units of alternate ribs.

Still another object is to provide an arcuate rib roof construction made up of a plurality of spaced arcuate ribs tied together by longitudinally extending beams, in which saidribs comprise rafter units arranged in end to end relation, with novel locking gussets or tie pieces bridging the joints formed by adjacent ends of the rafters to reinforce the same, the said beams each alternately extending through the transverse center of a rafter and between adjacent or abutting rafter ends to tie the ribs together lengthwise of the roof.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not to be confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in end elevation of a portion of the arch of a roof constructed in accordance with the present invention, the same being shown resting at one side upon a supporting wall.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but constituting a section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a section taken longitudinally of the roof structure substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail showing a slight modification of the structure of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5 is a view in top plan of the modification shown in Fig. 4.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I designates one of two side walls of a building which support the opposite sides of the roof structure embodying the present invention.

The roof frame comprises a plurality of arcuate ribs which may define a half or less of a circle. These ribs are preferably of single and double or laminated construction, the single ribs being generally indicated by the numeral 2 while the double or laminated ribs are indicated generally by the numeral 3.

Each of the ribs or bows is made up of a series of intermediate rafter beams 4 and side or starter rafters which in alternate bows or ribs are of full length or of the same length as the rafters 4, as indicated at 5 in Fig. 2, while in the other ribs or bows, these starter rafters are of half length, as indicated at 6 in Fig. 1. The bows or ribs, of course, extend across the width of the building, being supported at their ends upon the building walls or upon suitable grade level foundations where the ribs or bows are made of sufficient arcuate extent to constitute the roof frame and side wall frame of the building. In other words, the roofing construction may be such that the arc extends from the ground level on one side of the building to the ground level on the opposite side, no supporting walls being employed but merely grade level foundations upon which the ends of the bows or ribs rest.

In the illustration of the invention, however, the ends of the bows are shown as resting upon walls, one only of the walls being illustrated.

The size or weight of the timbers used in making the rafters varies in accordance with the radius of the roof, but as an illustration of the manner in which the rafters are formed, it may be stated that these may be composed of 2x10 timbers of suitable length. These timbers are cut so as to have one longitudinal edge of arcuate form to conform to the finished radius of the roof frame and each rafter timber l is provided at its transverse center with a square hole 6' for the reception of a 4x4 timber I or a square timber of any other suitable dimensions, which extends lengthwise of the roof. The rafters 4 are arranged in end abutting relation as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the abutting ends are notched, as indicated at 8, so as to form one with the other a recess for the reception of the longitudinally extending 4x4 tie beams referred to. As previously stated, alternate ones of the ribs or bows 2 have at each end a full length starter rafter 5 which is notched at its outer end, as indicated at 9, for engagement over the wall footing strip III, which is secured lengthwise of the wall plate ll, while the other bows which, of course, alternate with the ones having the full length rafters 5 at their ends, have the half length rafters G, which are likewise notched at their outer ends, as indicated at I! for engagement over the foot strip l0. Thus it will be seen that the full length starter rafters alternate with the half length rafters throughout the length of the roof and consequently the intermediate rafters 4 of each bow or rib have their central openings or holes E alined with adjacent notched ends of the rafters or bows'at opposite sides and consequently each of the longitudinal tie beams-l altemately passes through the center of a rafter and between notched abutting ends of a pair of rafters.

The notched abutting ends of each pair of rafters form upon the inner or under side of each rib, a V-shaped crotch. These crotches are filled out by tie pieces or gusset pieces [3, each of which extends across a joint between two ends of a pair of rafters and across the tie beam 1 passing between such ends. These tie or gusset pieces are secured to the adjacent rafters by the use of nails, bolts or in any other suitable manner, and they thus form a locking connection between the joined ends of the rafters and, since their under edges are longitudinally arcuate and formed to conform to the curvature of the roof frame, they complete the arcuate contour of the inner side of each rib or body.

The double or laminated ribs 3 are placed at the ends of the roofing construction and at suitable intervals between the ends. For example, the single thickness bows or ribs may be placed on 24 in. centers and the double or laminated ribs may be placed on 16 ft. centers. These laminated ribs are the equivalent of placing in side by side contacting relation two adjacent single ribs 2. As a result of this, it will be seen that each laminated rib has one lamination consisting of full length starter rafters 5 and intermediate rafters 4 and an adjoining lamination consisting of half length starter rafters 6 and intermediate rafters 4. Since Fig. l is a view looking toward the end of the roofing frame structure, it will be obvious that this is a side view of a double or laminated rib or bow 3 while Fig. 2 shows a portion in side elevation of a single thickness rib or bow 2.

The spacing of the double bows or ribs is optional. The reason for using these double bows is not necessarily for added strength but for ease in erecting the roof and for providing a g placed in position, it may be covered by any suitbearing or support for the ends of the longitudinal tie beams I.

As previously stated, the rafter pieces may be cut from 2x10 material and the strip cut from the top edge of these pieces wil. vary depending upon the curvature of the roof. This curvature in turn depends upon the radius used. The pieces cut from the rafter timber may be secured to the bottom edge of the same timber, thus forming a full 2x10 rafter into the curvature or radius desired.

At the plate line, the cuts formed in the outer ends of the starter rafters 5 and 6 are, of course, the same as the outer ends of all of the starter rafters must be made to fit the foot strip III which rests upon the plate II. It will be obvious that the longitudinally extending tie beams or pieces I require no special cutting except that the ends be square, however, if desired, these timbers where they abut one against the other may be suitably cut for interlocking connection. The lengths of the tie pieces I will be determined by the distance or spacing between the double or laminated ribs 3.

As previously stated, the use of the double or laminated ribs 3 makes for ease in erecting the roof. Since .thedouble ribs form the joining points for adjacent ends of the longitudinally extending tie beams 1, these ribs substantially divide the complete roof into sections. Thisallows for the erection of a portion of the roof in its entirety before another section is started if this should, for any reason, be desired. Also such a sectionally constructed roof is more easily repaired in the event of damage by fire or other hazards.

After the interlocking rib roof framing is able roofing material or by sheathing lumber,

placed either spaced apart or in edge to edge relation for the reception of the roofing coating. In Figs. 1 and 2, the roofing or covering placed over the frame is generally indicated by the numeral H, it being understood that this represents any suitable type of finish surfacing for the frame, and may be placed squarely and horizontally across the ribs or diagonally across the same as may be considered most suitable.

A roof framing constructed in accordance with the present invention provides for greater economy in construction costs over other arch roof framing methods. No steel is made use of so that the cost of this material is eliminated as well as the time delay resulting from the necessity of fabricating the parts. All of the materials for a roof framing such as here described are readily available and may be obtained in pieces of standard size which require only the making of simple saw cuts to form them in the proper shape for easy assembly.

A further economy accompanying the construction of a roof in accordance with the present invention exists in the fact that the roof can be put into place with greater ease than other types of arcuate or arched roofs as only a simple pole hoist and narrow saddle scaffolds are required whereas most other roof designs require elaborate temporary scaffolds built up from the ground within the building structure which is to be covered. As a result of the lack of need for such inside scaffolding, the inside of the building is left open, allowing other craftsmen to work in the space which would ordinarily be filled by the scaffolding.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a detail of construction in the way of a modification of the invention which may be made a part of the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive. This modification consists in the application to the single ribs of short reinforcing strips at the sides of the ribs across the joints between the sections of which the ribs are made up and between the longi- 3. An arched roof frame structure, comprising a plurality of spaced side by side "bowed ribs, each of said ribs comprising a-plurality of elongated rafter units in end abutting relation, tie

tudinal beams I and the roof covering or sheath- 4 beams extending transversely of the bowed ribs to couple the same together, said rafter units having apertures formed transversely therethrough intermediate their ends and having shaped recesses rafter and an end of a short or a long starter rafter indicated by the numerals 6 and 5, respectively, in Figs. 1- and 2. The additional reinforcement referred to is indicated by the numeral i5 and consists of a short strip of wood of approximately 24" in length and 2" in thickness, which is disposed against one or both faces of the adjoining rafter members betweenthe tie piece 1 and the roof covering or sheathing which is here indicated by the numeral i4. Bolts IE or other securing elements are passed transversely through these short tie pieces l5 and through the interposedor adjacent rafter membes so as to lock the several parts securely toether. By this construction it will be readily seen that the bracing of the joints at the endsof pieces 5 or 6 and 4, or the ends of pieces 4 is greatly improved.

What is claimed is:

1. An arched roof frame structure, comprising a plurality of spaced side by side bowed ribs, each of said ribs comprising a plurality of elongated rafter units in end abutting relation, and tie beams extending transversely of the bowed ribs to couple the same together, said rafter units having apertures formed transversely therethrough intermediate their ends and having notches formed in the abutting ends, through which apertures and notches said tie beams Pass.

2. An arched roof frame adjoining structure, comprising a plurality of spaced bowed ribs disposed in side by' side relation, each of said ribs including a plurality of elongated rafter members and end starter rafters, being in end abutting relation, the starter rafters of alternate ribs being of half the length of the starter rafters of the other ribs whereby the rafter members of alternate ribs are -out of alinement with the rafter members of the adiacent starter rafters each having an aperture formed therethrough at its transverse center and the edges of the abutting ends of all of the rafters having coacting notches formed therein, and tie beams extending transversely of the ribs and passing through said apertures and engaging in the notches, each beam passing alternately through a rafter aperture and two coacting notches.

' in side by said rafter members and starter rafters' ribs, said rafter members and full length' 60. cured to the sides of notches formed across the edges of the abutting ends, through which apertures and notches said tie beams at the inner sides where the said abutting ends come together, and a tie piece in the form of a gusset fitting in each of said V- shaped recesses and having its under side curved to \conform to the curvature of the roof frame whereby the underside of each rib forms an un'- broken arch.

4. An arched roof frame structure, comprising a plurality of bowed ribs disposed in spaced side by side relation, said plurality of ribs including spaced ribs of laminated construction and intermediate single ribs, said single and laminated ribs each including a plurality of elongated rafter members disposed in end abutting relation and having their abutting ends notched from the under edges thereof, each of said rafters having an aperture formed transversely therethrough at its transverese center, alternate ones of the single ribs having end starter rafters of the same length as the rafter members and the remaining ones of the single ribs having end starter rafters ofhalf .the length of the rafter members, each of said laminated ribs comprising duplicates of two adjacent single ribs secured side relation, and said adjacent single ribs constituting ends of sections of the frame structure, and tie beams extending transversely of the ribs and each beam passing alternately through an aperture at the transverse center of a rafter and the notches in a pair of abutting rafter ends and terminating at each end within alaminated rib.

5. An arched roof frame structure, comprising a plurality of spacedside by side bowed ribs, each of said ribs comprising a plurality of elongated rafter units in end abutting relation, tie beams extending transversely of the bowed ribs to couple the same together, said rafter units having apertures formed transversely therethrough intermediate their ends and having notches formed in the abutting ends, through which apertures and notches the said tie beams pass, tie members extending across the notched ends of the rafter units and beneath the tie beams therein and secured to the units to lock the same together, and a tie strip extending across the adjacent notched ends of the "units over the top of the adjacent tie beam and sethe adjacent units.

HARRY R. HOECKENDORF.

pass, said rafters forming V- 

